Space History

When Irondale discovered a neglected, long-vacant former Sunday school auditorium in the historic Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, we also saw the potential for creating a dynamic flexible theatre. We are proud to be neighbors in the building with the church, a culturally diverse congregation whose activist roots date back to Brooklyn’s pre-Civil War abolitionist movement. The theatre also provides an opportunity for Irondale to play an important role in an exciting and growing cultural district.

Opened in 2008, Irondale serves as the physical laboratory for our work. The theatre has 28-foot ceilings, a 1,900-square-foot mezzanine/gallery, and original stained glass windows. The restoration retained the original scale, character and details of this distinctive space.